Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old striker for CD Tenerife, has died following a high-speed collision during a Spanish Segunda División match on Monday. The incident occurred in the closing moments of the game against Andorra when de Miguel collided with opposing goalkeeper Jesús Owono while both players contested a ball near the halfway line. Owono had rushed out of his penalty area in an attempt to clear the play, resulting in a severe impact that saw the referee immediately issue a red card to the Andorra goalkeeper. ⚽️ sign up for THE beautiful game by sports ⚽️. Players from both sides looked devastated. Alongside his loved ones, alongside all of the tinerfeñismo that today weeps for this cruel outcome.”, we stand alongside his devastated family.
Following the collision, de Miguel fell to the pitch holding his chest and remained motionless as medical teams rushed to provide urgent support. The match was subsequently abandoned. The player was transported directly to a hospital, where initial reports described him as remaining “stable despite the severity of his condition.” However, his status deteriorated overnight due to neurological complications, and his club confirmed his death on Tuesday morning.
In a statement expressing profound grief, CD Tenerife noted they were “racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true.” Club president Felipe Miñambres addressed the tragedy on Tuesday, emphasizing the collective sorrow facing the team and the broader football community. Andorra also issued a tribute, offering sincere condolences to de Miguel’s family and teammates while announcing that their own upcoming Sunday fixture has been postponed to navigate the aftermath of the event. “There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness. “But we’ll go through the mourning all together, and we’ll be with all the people going through this feeling that should make us be more together.”.
Spanish media reports indicate that the National Police have launched an involuntary manslaughter investigation, a standard procedural step for deaths deemed non-natural under Spanish law, as confirmed by the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands. Meanwhile, Jesús Owono, who was seen checking on his opponent on the pitch before being sent off, has deactivated his social media presence. Andorra’s statement noted that the club must stand together and support one another during this difficult period. It did say, “We are a team, on and off the field, though Andorra’s statement didn’t mention Owono by name.
Tributes from across the sporting world have arrived to honor the late striker, who joined Tenerife in the summer of 2025 after a career largely spent in Spanish lower-tier football. Former Unionistas de Salamanca CF teammate Fernando Román shared a public message on X, writing, “You were more than a friend… I will never forget you… Rest in Peace.”
The impact of the loss has reached the highest levels of the sport.
Real Madrid announced plans for a minute of silence before their training session, while Barcelona expressed their deep regret over the tragic news. Additionally, the Royal Spanish Football Federation suspended all Copa del Rey matches scheduled for Tuesday. UEFA further confirmed that all of its matches throughout the week, including Champions League fixtures involving major Spanish clubs, will feature a moment of silence to commemorate de Miguel’s life.
